MINDANAO DAILY The Purveyor of Truth, Justice and Development
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Volume IX, No. 063
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Thursday, August 1, 2019
1923
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PNP cries foul over PH tag as ‘dangerous’ place for land rights T
HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday refuted a Britainbased watchdog’s claims alleging that the Philippines is the most dangerous place for land and environmental activists.
PNP chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde. (PNA File photo)
PH, world’s deadliest place for environmental defenders
THE Philippines has recorded the highest number of killings of any country in 2018 with at least 30 defenders murdered, according to international environmental watchdog Global Witness. In its annual report en-
titled “Enemies of the state?” which was released in July this year, the Global Witness named the Philippines as “the world’s deadliest country for defenders.” On October 20, 2018, the UK-based group said
gunmen shot dead nine sugarcane farmers and burned down their tents on the Philippine island of Negros. “The victims, who included three women and two teenagers, were
THE Malacañang on Tuesday expressed concern over a Britain-based watchdog’s report which showed that the Philippines is the most dangerous place for land and environmental activists. In its report, Global Witness saw 30 murders of people who defended their
homes, lands and natural resources from exploitation in the Philippines in 2018. “The government will always be concerned with respect to any violence inflicted against the citizens of this country, whether done by outside forces or by those inside this country,” Panelo
said in a Palace briefing. Panelo, however, acknowledged how killings took place due to conflicts among claimants of particular lands. “Well, that happens. If there are conflicts among claimants of a particular
See DEADLIEST, page 11
Government concerned over violence against land defenders
See DEFENDERS, page 11
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said the PNP takes strong exception to the labeling done by Global
Witness of the country as a deadly nation for land rights. He said land disputes have always been a perennial source of conflict among people, and this has been among several motives behind some homicides investigated by the PNP. “Let me assure that every incident of violence stemming from whatever motive is promptly investigated by the police with utmost priority,” Albayalde said in a statement sent to reporters. “The reality is that the activities of the local communist movement in the countryside is also a factor
in this armed conflict over land rights, and many tribal leaders, community officials and government security forces have died protecting land rights against insurgents who want to place these communities under their control,” he stressed. In its report, Global Witness said 164 land and environmental activists were killed in the country in 2018. This number, it said, includes the nine sugarcane farmers who were gunned down in Sagay City, Negros Occidental in October last year. philippine news agency